Case report describes bilateral simple excision in a 10-year-old child with cervical branchial remnants

Photo by ThisisEngineering / Unsplash

Frontiers in Medicine Published May 28, 2026 Medically reviewed May 28, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Sofia Müller, MD · Lifespan & Whole-Person Care

Key Takeaway

Consider careful preoperative assessment to rule out systemic comorbidities in children with branchial remnants.

This source is a case report and review of the literature focusing on a 10-year-old child with bilateral cervical chondrocutaneous branchial remnants. The intervention involved bilateral simple excision, and the setting was not reported. The sample size was one patient, and the primary outcome was not reported. Secondary outcomes were also not reported, and follow-up duration was not reported.

Safety data indicated that adverse events were not reported, serious adverse events were not reported, discontinuations were not reported, and tolerability was not reported. The authors did not provide specific numerical results for the primary or secondary outcomes.

The authors note that funding or conflicts were not reported. A key limitation is the small sample size inherent to a single case report. The practice relevance highlighted is the importance of careful preoperative assessment to rule out potential systemic comorbidities before proceeding with surgery.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Bilateral chondrocutaneous branchial remnants (CCBRs) are rare congenital anomalies arising from the branchial apparatus. Given that they may be associated with other congenital anomalies, thorough physical examination and targeted investigations are recommended. Although typically asymptomatic, early intervention is favored for optimal cosmetic results and psychosocial well-being. Definitive management involves complete excision of both the cutaneous lesion and its underlying cartilaginous component. We present the case of a 10-year-old with bilateral neck masses, one of which appeared as a pedunculated skin tag, subsequently diagnosed as bilateral CCBRs. Following laboratory and imaging evaluation that revealed no associated anomalies, the patient underwent successful bilateral simple excision. This case highlights the importance of careful preoperative assessment to rule out potential systemic comorbidities, despite the straightforward nature of surgical treatment.